Bantam D1-3 Chuck

[martin62]

I have a Colchester Bantam with a 3 jaw D1-3 chuck which is 5" diameter which is not in great shape and would like to upgrade/bigger. Would the lathe take an 8"or 10"and where is the best place to find one

 

[Agroshield]

Do you want a backplate mounted one or a D1-3 integral one?

Look at a chuck manufacturer (Bison, Burnerd, maybe Gator) and see what is the biggest they offer in integral D1-3. Use this as a guide concerning what is sensible.

Rotagrip are good, maybe Gloster Tooling. Remember we live in a metric world so search for 200mm as well as 8".

An 8" chuck on a backplate will overhang the spindle a long way.

 

[George Dennis]

If you are using a larger chuck be careful the jaws don't stick out too far or you will catch the bed of your lathe? I have a colchester bantom with a 5" chuck and have both sets of inside and outside jaws, plus a 4 jaws 8" independent chuck for anything bigger but rarely use it

 

[Martin-Sy]

Bison chucks are excellent. I bought one about 30 years ago and it's still very good.

Size: The Bantam manual accessories list has a 125mm 3J and 205mm Burnerd light duty 4 jaw independent.
Both direct D1-3 mounting (ie no backplate needed).

I would not go any bigger than 160mm for a 3 J on a Bantam. Big chucks are heavy!

Put a watch on ebay. You might get lucky. I picked up a 160mm Bison 4J scroll chuck in VGC on D1-3 backplate for £90 a few years back.
Also a 160mm PB 3J for £330 in new condition.
If you do spot one make sure it has both sets of jaws.

I have no experience of the chucks from the far east.

 

[martin62]

I will have to keep a lookout on Ebay thanks for the help

 

[Pete.]

It will swing a 8" for sure but I wouldn't fit a 10". The Bantam will swing 12" I think but as above you risk the jaws hitting the bed if you wind them out too far. A 8" chuck with the jaws wound out 1" is effectively 10" diameter.

 

[Mark Davison]

I would want to go much more than 160mm on my bantam. With the jaws open you'll get very close to the bed.

 

[Martin-Sy]

I would want to go much more than 160mm

would NOT ??

We don't know which version @martin62 has. The last ones (according to lathes.co.uk) are actually 6.5" centre height.